Today's Reading: Psalm 100
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
- Psalm 100:4
Whether the gates of some cities were
built for defensive or ceremonial purposes, they all represent the
difference between being outside or inside certain areas of the city.
Some are open; some are closed to all but a few.
The gates into the presence of God are
always open. The familiar song of Psalm 100 is an invitation for the
Israelites to enter into the presence of God through the temple
gates. They were told to “shout for joy” and “come before him
with joyful songs” (v. 1-2). Shouting for joy was an appropriate
expression when greeting a monarch in the ancient world. All the
earth was to sing joyfully about God! The reason for this joyful
noise was that God had given them their identity (v. 3). They entered
the gates with praise and thanksgiving because of God's goodness and
His steadfast and enduring love which continues through all
generations (v. 4-5). Even when they forgot their identity and
wandered away from Him, God remained faithful and still invited them
to enter His presence.
The gates into God's presence is always
open, inviting us to come and worship.
Will YOU enter in?
